I agree with Wedgie as well. In terms of rules against overt racism, yes there are rules. The league does very little on speaking out and punishing racists.

Example - what did the NHL do when Tim Thomas refused to go to the Whitehouse because the President was African American?
- winsix

?

Bolded: 100% agree but they haven’t. So Ovie isn’t breaking rules with his poopty behaviour.
- Dozzer

I think if the NHL suspended him there would be a large labour battle about the meaning of the specific language in the player contracts. There is considerable language about player behaviour ...needing to portray the values of the league ..blah blah blah ...the PA would fight (and probably win in the end).

But if they had bigger ties ($$$) directly to Putin then the US government could get involved much like governments have all over the world.

Ovi's not a big enough fish though. The closest thing I can think of is the Belarusian Formula 1 driver that had his contract cut by his team. He was the son of an Putin Oligarch though ..so the ties to Putin were even more perverse.

The league could/should essentially shut down all of his promo/media availability, etc...Just make him invisible except for his ice time.

Can tend goal ??
- bixll

Yes.

If he wears his wallet in a fanny pack, it will cover the entire net.

No need for a sumo wrestler.

But they do have that rule.

They just don't apply it enough.
- Atomic Wedgie

Marchand would never be able to play hockey again.....

Yes.

If he wears his wallet in a fanny pack, it will cover the entire net.

No need for a sumo wrestler.
- Atomic Wedgie

Good idea.. Price should try that.

If the NHL makes a rule to kick out aresholes... There will be lots of teams in need of players.
- bixll

Agreed

More cap space. With retention that's a lot more than it seems.
- Santo_44

I figured that was just to provide the room they need for Gio.

I love it. The government should sanction Ovi by striping him of all goals scored in Canada, preserving the record held by the (kind of) great Ukrainian Wayne Gretzky
- Canada Cup

I read something the other day that over the years, Gretzky has described his dad's heritage as Ukrainian, Russian and Belorussian at different times.

Don't know if it is true or not.

I figured that was just to provide the room they need for Gio.
- The Law

No. Not Sandin either that's for sure, was injured last game apparently.

Not true:

18-A.2 Commissioner Authority to Impose Discipline for Off-Ice Conduct. Whenever the Commissioner determines that a Player has violated a League Rule applicable to Players (other than Playing Rules subjecting the Player to potential Supplementary Discipline for On-Ice Conduct), or has been or is guilty of conduct (whether during or outside the playing season) that is detrimental to or against the welfare of the League or the game of hockey, he may discipline such Player in any or all of the following respects:
(a) by expelling or suspending such Player for a definite or indefinite period;
(b) by cancelling any SPC that such Player has with any Member Club; or
(c) by imposing a fine on the Player not exceeding the maximum permissible fine
under Section 18.7(b).

But I guess that would mean Bettman would have to take a stand, and we know that isn't going to happen.

P.S. I realize I'm quite hot on this topic, and please know that my posts are not meant to be an attack on you personally.

I spent the March Break with dear friends - the wife's brother and his family have been displaced by the war. They have fled Kyiv - currently in Poland. They are lucky - he's got a Canadian passport, so they could leave. They both work for international companies, so they are being taken care of.

But our friend gets a constant stream from him about just how bad it is.

It's now a full-on humanitarian crisis. Thousands dead, millions displaced.

Yet the NHL turns a blind eye to a guy who actively supports the war criminal responsible for this - because what, they think they can sell more OV t-shirts?
- Atomic Wedgie

It’s okay I understand why you’re extremely upset about because like I said I do agree with your viewpoint OTHER than the fact that you seem to think that what he’s doing is against the rules.

What rule is he breaking? His behaviour isn’t effecting the league’s popularity just his own. I know they can discipline him if he’s breaking a rule but he isn’t actually breaking a rule.

I suppose they could argue that he’s lowering the popularity of the capitals but are they selling less tickets? Has their TV viewership dwindled? Etc. Are his teammates openly complaining about him? If they don’t have black and white evidence/proof of that accusation then this cannot apply.

Bobby Margarita
@TSNBobMcKenzie
· 2m
Sandin’s injury is believed to be his knee. Certainly not day-to-day.



Not a good thing...but going to LTIR

But they do have that rule.

They just don't apply it enough.
- Atomic Wedgie

Ok, please describe how he’s breaking the rule.

Any word on Mrazek?

Any sightings at the airport?

Or at the CNE grounds?

Or maybe Robidas Island?

Any word on Mrazek?

Any sightings at the airport?

Or at the CNE grounds?

Or maybe Robidas Island?
- Atomic Wedgie

New unannounced blog

I think if the NHL suspended him there would be a large labour battle about the meaning of the specific language in the player contracts. There is considerable language about player behaviour ...needing to portray the values of the league ..blah blah blah ...the PA would fight (and probably win in the end).

But if they had bigger ties ($$$) directly to Putin then the US government could get involved much like governments have all over the world.

Ovi's not a big enough fish though. The closest thing I can think of is the Belarusian Formula 1 driver that had his contract cut by his team. He was the son of an Putin Oligarch though ..so the ties to Putin were even more perverse.

The league could/should essentially shut down all of his promo/media availability, etc...Just make him invisible except for his ice time.
- The Law

What I would like to see is the CBA revised to state that players face a possible suspension if they choose to openly discuss politics or use their social popularity to try to enhance or make money for anything political.

I’m willing to bet if the NHL and NHLPA sat down to discuss a rule that works for both sides that this could be accomplished.

Ok, please describe how he’s breaking the rule.
- Dozzer

"...or has been or is guilty of conduct (whether during or outside the playing season) that is detrimental to or against the welfare of the League or the game of hockey..."

Call me old school, but I think a guy who actively promotes a war criminal, and then refuses to recant his support or speak out against an illegal invasion of another sovereign nation, causing thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions, is detrimental to the reputation of the League and the game of hockey.

If a player actively supported the leader of a white supremacist organization, the league would suspend him immediately (no, there is nothing specific in the CBA about off-ice racism by players - it's simply covered under the clause above).

Why?

He supports a war criminal.

Because this is the internet, let's go to the extreme right away: if a player vocally supported Hitler, and refused to recant his views (kept a picture of him and Hitler as his Instagram home page), would the league allow him to continue to play?

Would the league actively promote the player?

The world is already enforcing heavy sanctions against Russia and Russians.

At what point do we look at work visas? How many Ukrainians have to die before the NHL (and the US and Canadian governments) are willing to have this uncomfortable conversation?

And don't give me this horsepoop about how it would be dangerous for Ovi's family. One - it's crap. And two - this started when Ovi vocally supported the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Why is everyone turning a blind eye to this?
- Atomic Wedgie

The thing is, you've decided he supports a war criminal
You're writing your own story here, off of an Instagram picture. When reality is you really don't have a clue what he's up against, how could you?

How are you to know if him yanking down one Instagram picture and denouncing the guy puts his family at home in danger or not?

Who are you or I or anyone else to be deciding how he should be conducting himself here without living a day in his shoes?

The United States have taken almost identical steps to sanction Russians associated with Putin.

Ovie should be on that list.

How is Ovie different from Abramovich?
- Atomic Wedgie

Oh come on.

Abramovich is a billionaire politician and Ovechkin is a millionaire athlete.

That’s a pretty damn big difference tbh.

Oh come on.

Abramovich is a billionaire politician and Ovechkin is a millionaire athlete.

That’s a pretty damn big difference tbh.
- Dozzer

A moral dilemma...

The thing is, you've decided he supports a war criminal
You're writing your own story here, off of an Instagram picture. When reality is you really don't have a clue what he's up against, how could you?

How are you to know if him yanking down one Instagram picture and denouncing the guy puts his family at home in danger or not?
- joel878

Yes.

Atomic Wedgie is the only guy who is saying this.

I came up with this idea all on my own.

You may want to read Slava Malamud's Twitter feed.

Or just give your head a shake.

What I would like to see is the CBA revised to state that players face a possible suspension if they choose to openly discuss politics or use their social popularity to try to enhance or make money for anything political.

I’m willing to bet if the NHL and NHLPA sat down to discuss a rule that works for both sides that this could be accomplished.
- Dozzer

Won't happen. Lawyer's prefer vague references like "conduct that is detrimental to or against the welfare of the League or the game of hockey".

Vague = billable time!

But seriously you'd never want to try to create a list of specific behaviour that is good/bad/ugly. You want it to remain a "living tree".

Yes.

If he wears his wallet in a fanny pack, it will cover the entire net.

No need for a sumo wrestler.
- Atomic Wedgie

To be honest, I am not sure if punishing a player for their political, religious or other personal beliefs is something the league can even do. It would be discrimination, would it not.

"...or has been or is guilty of conduct (whether during or outside the playing season) that is detrimental to or against the welfare of the League or the game of hockey..."

Call me old school, but I think a guy who actively promotes a war criminal, and then refuses to recant his support or speak out against an illegal invasion of another sovereign nation, causing thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions, is detrimental to the reputation of the League and the game of hockey.

If a player actively supported the leader of a white supremacist organization, the league would suspend him immediately (no, there is nothing specific in the CBA about off-ice racism by players - it's simply covered under the clause above).
- Atomic Wedgie

The welfare of the league will be monetary based not morally.

People have different morals Wedgie so openly judging people based on that is actually far more against the welfare of the league.

For instance… I’m willing to bet there are plenty of fans who support Ovie’s stance. So openly judging him could effect the welfare of the league financially. Which is what the owners would truly care about.

Yes.

Atomic Wedgie is the only guy who is saying this.

I came up with this idea all on my own.

You may want to read Slava Malamud's Twitter feed.

Or just give your head a shake.
- Atomic Wedgie

Who cares if you're the only person? That changes absolutely nothing, there was more than one person (a lot more powerful people than you or I) saying Iraq had WMD too.

Perhaps rather than continuing to judge and chastise people whom you will never have a clue what challenges they are up against in their own lives, you should give your own head a shake.

A moral dilemma...
- bixll

Like what I said, Ovie isn’t breaking any technical rules.

I don’t like it either but that’s what makes it something that he can do.